Information

Communication Methods

Hand over hand signs : feeling the hand movements of the person signing.

Short-cut signs : tactile fingerspelling supplemented by some signs which are made in the palm of the hand.

Co-active signs : making the signs with the person. This is the natural sign language of the Deaf community which can be read by people who are deafblind, using the hand over hand method.

Tracking: holding the signer’s wrist(s) to feel the movement or to keep the signs within visual range.

Visual Frame or Close Vision Sign : signs are made within a small area in front of the upper chest and within close visual range of the person.

Tactile fingerspelling: Fingerspelling received on the palm.

Braille: This is a written form of communication based on an oral language. A system of embossed dots are read with the fingertips. A braille system can also be used on the hands, using 3 fingers on each hand to repre-sent the six dots of braille.

Tadoma: This is a tactile method of reading speech by placing the thumb on the speaker’s lips and the other fingers on the speaker’s neck.